US7956792B2 - Remote controller, electronic product system, and related method with memory capability - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote controller with memory capability includes a status button, a memory, a processing unit, and a transceiver device. The memory is utilized for storing a status information of an electronic product. When the status button is pressed, the processing unit generates a control signal and determines whether the status information exists in the memory. When the status button is pressed and the status information does not exist in the memory, the transceiver device outputs the control signal and receives the status information and the memory stores the status information. When the status button is pressed and the status information exists in the memory, the transceiver device outputs the control signal and the status information stored in the memory.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a remote controller with memory capability, and more particularly, to a remote controller for storing the final status information in the memory when outputting a control signal to turn off an electronic product.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the development of technology, the functionality of multimedia player devices increase day by day. Take televisions as example, not only numerous channels and shows can be selected but also other electronic devices such as DVD players or game players can be connected externally. Users can choose to watch different channels or switch to an external electronic device signal mode. Now it is popular that a family own at least two televisions. For this reason, users usually hope to operate several electronic products through one remote controller more conveniently.

Assume that users watch a channel CH1 on the first television TV1 in the living room at first, and then the users want to go back into the bedroom and hope to continue to watch the channel CH1. Thus, the users output the control signal to turn off the first television TV1 by utilizing the remote controller and go back into the bedroom to turn on the second television TV2. Conventionally, the users then need to set up the channel of the second television TV2 as the channel CH1.

Because the present day remote controller of the television remote control system does not have the function of storing the originally played channel CH1 in the memory of the remote controller, users need to turn on the second television TV2 and then set up the channel of the second television TV2 as the channel CH1 if they want to change to another place and to continue watching the channel CH1. This is quite inconvenient for users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The claimed invention provides a remote controller with memory capability. The remote controller includes a status button, a memory, a processing unit, and a transceiver device. The memory is utilized for storing a status information of an electronic product. When the status button is pressed, the processing unit generates a control signal and determines whether the status information exists in the memory. When the status button is pressed, the transceiver device transmits the control signal and the status information. When the status button is pressed and the processing unit determines that the status information does not exist in the memory, the transceiver device outputs the control signal, receives the status information, and the memory stores the status information. When the status button is pressed and the processing unit determines that the status information exists in the memory, the transceiver device outputs the control signal and the status information that is stored in the memory.

The claimed invention provides an electronic product system capable of controlling memory capability with a remote controller. The electronic product system includes a first electronic product, a second electronic product, and a remote controller. The first electronic product includes a first transceiver device and a status information. The second electronic product includes a second transceiver device. The remote controller includes a status button, a memory, a processing unit, and a third transceiver device. The memory is utilized for storing the status information. When the status button is pressed, the processing unit generates a control signal and determines whether the status information exists in the memory. The third transceiver device is utilized for transmitting the control signal and the status information and exchanging data with the first transceiver device and the second transceiver device. When the status button is first pressed, the third transceiver device transmits the control signal to the first transceiver device, receives the status information, and stores the status information in the memory. When the status button is pressed again, the third transceiver device transmits the control signal and the status information to the second transceiver device.

The claimed invention provides a method for utilizing a remote controller to operate electronic products. The method includes determining whether a status information exists in a memory of a remote controller when a status button of the remote controller is pressed, the remote controller transmitting a control signal to a first electronic product if the status information does not exist in the memory of the remote controller, determining whether the first electronic product is on, the first electronic product transmitting the status information at present to the remote controller if the first electronic product is on and the status information does not exist in the memory of the remote controller, storing the status information in the memory of the remote controller, and turning off the first electronic product.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a television remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an air conditioner remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a flow of utilizing a remote controller to operate electronic products according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a flow of utilizing a remote controller to operate the television remote control system inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of utilizing a remote controller to operate the air conditioner remote control system inFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1.FIG. 1 is a televisionremote control system40 according to the present invention. The televisionremote control system40 includes a first television TV1, a second television TV2, and aremote controller42. The first television TV1 includes a firstwireless transceiver device14A and astatus information49. The second television TV2 includes a secondwireless transceiver device14B. Theremote controller42 includes a thirdwireless transceiver device14C, amemory46, aprocessing unit47, and astatus button48. Thememory46 is utilized for storing thestatus information49. Theprocessing unit47 is coupled to thememory46, the thirdwireless transceiver device14C, and thestatus button48. When thestatus button48 is pressed, theprocessing unit47 generates a control signal and determines whether thestatus information49 exists in thememory46. The thirdwireless transceiver device14C is utilized for exchanging data with the firstwireless transceiver device14A and the secondwireless transceiver device14B in a wireless manner, and for transmitting the control signal and thestatus information49. The first television TV1 may be located in the living room and the second television TV2 may be located in the bedroom. The firstwireless transceiver device14A, the secondwireless transceiver device14B, and the thirdwireless transceiver device14C are each an infrared ray (IR) transceiver device.

Please refer toFIG. 2 that is an air conditionerremote control system50 according to the present invention. The air conditionerremote control system50 includes a first air conditioner AC1, a second air conditioner AC2, and aremote controller52. The first air conditioner AC1 includes a firstwireless transceiver device54A and astatus information59. The second air conditioner AC2 includes a secondwireless transceiver device54B. Theremote controller52 includes a thirdwireless transceiver device54C, amemory56, aprocessing unit57, and astatus button58. Thememory56 is used for storing thestatus information59. Theprocessing unit57 is coupled to thememory56, the thirdwireless transceiver device54C, and thestatus button58. When thestatus button58 is pressed, theprocessing unit57 generates a control signal and determines whether thestatus information59 exists in thememory56. The thirdwireless transceiver device54C is utilized for exchanging data with the firstwireless transceiver device54A and the secondwireless transceiver device54B in a wireless manner, and for transmitting the control signal and thestatus information59. The first air conditioner AC1 may be located in the living room and the second air conditioner AC2 may be located in the bedroom. The firstwireless transceiver device54A, the secondwireless transceiver device54B, and the thirdwireless transceiver device54C are each an infrared ray (IR) transceiver device.

Please refer toFIG. 3 that is a diagram illustrating aflow60 of utilizing a remote controller to operate electronic products according to the present invention. Theflow60 includes the following steps.

Step602: Users press a status button of a remote controller.

Step604: Determining whether a status information exists in a memory of the remote controller or not. If yes, go to step618; otherwise, go to step606.

Step606: The remote controller transmits a control signal to a first electronic product.

Step608: Determine whether the first electronic product is on or not. If yes, go to step610; otherwise, go to step616.

Step610: The first electronic product transmits the status information to the remote controller.

Step612: Store the status information in the memory of the remote controller.

Step614: Turn off the first electronic product.

Step616: Turn on the first electronic product.

Step618: The remote controller transmits the control signal to a second electronic product.

Step620: Determine whether the second electronic product is on or not. If yes, go to step622; otherwise, go to step626.

Step622: The remote controller transmits the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second electronic product.

Step624: Set a status of the second electronic product according to the status stored in the memory of the remote controller.

Step626: The remote controller transmits the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second electronic product.

Step628: Turn on the second electronic product.

Step630: Set the status of the second electronic product according to the status stored in the memory of the remote controller.

Assume that users make use of the first electronic product in the living room at first, and then users want to go back to the bedroom and hope that the status of the second electronic product is kept the same as the status of the first electronic product. If the status information of the first electronic product did not exist in the memory of the remote controller at first, the control signal is transmitted to the first electronic product firstly when users press the status button. Instep612, the remote controller stores the status information of the first electronic product in the memory of the remote controller if the first electronic product is on. Instep614, the remote controller turns off the first electronic product. Then users go back to the bedroom and press the status button again. At this time the status information of the first electronic product exists in the memory of the remote controller. Instep620, whether the second electronic product is in on is determined. In step622-624, the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller is transmitted to the second electronic product and the status of the second electronic product is set up according to the status stored in the memory of the remote controller if the second electronic product is on. In step626-630, the second electronic product is turned on and the status of the second electronic product is set to the same status as the status of the first electronic product through the remote controller if the second electronic product is off.

Please refer toFIG. 4.FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating aflow70 of utilizing a remote controller to operate the televisionremote control system40 inFIG. 1. Theflow70 includes the following steps.

Step702: Users press a status button of a remote controller.

Step704: Determine whether a channel last played by a first television TV1 exists in a memory of the remote controller or not. If yes, go to step718; otherwise, go to step706.

Step706: The remote controller transmits a control signal to the first television TV1.

Step708: Determine whether the first television TV1 is on or not. If yes, go to step710; otherwise, go to step716.

Step710: The first television TV1 transmits the last played channel information to the remote controller.

Step712: Store the channel in the memory of the remote controller.

Step714: Turn off the first television TV1.

Step716: Turn on the first television TV1.

Step718: The remote controller transmits the control signal to a second television TV2.

Step720: Determine whether the second television TV2 is on or not. If yes, go to step722; otherwise, go to step726.

Step722: The remote controller transmits the channel stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second television TV2.

Step724: Set a channel of the second television TV2 according to the channel stored in the memory of the remote controller.

Step726: The remote controller transmits the channel stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second television TV2.

Step728: Turn on the second television TV2.

Step730: Set the channel of the second television TV2 according to the channel stored in the memory of the remote controller.

Assume that users watch a channel CH1 of the first television TV1 in the living room at first, and then the users want to go back to the bedroom and hope to continue to watch the channel CH1. The channel CH1 of the first television TV1 did not exist in the memory of the remote controller at first. Firstly when the users press the status button, the control signal is transmitted to the first television TV1. Instep712, the remote controller stores the channel of the first television TV1 in the memory of the remote controller if the first television TV1 is on. Instep714, the remote controller turns off the first television TV1. Then users go back to the bedroom and press the status button again. At this time the channel CH1 of the first television TV1 exists in the memory of the remote controller already. Instep720, whether the second television TV2 is on is determined. In step722-724, the channel CH1 stored in the memory of the remote controller is transmitted to the second television TV2 and the channel of the second television TV2 is set up according to the channel CH1 stored in the memory of the remote controller if the second television TV2 is on. In step726-730, the second television TV2 is turned on and the channel of the second television TV2 is set to the channel CH1 which is the same channel as the channel of the first television TV1 through the remote controller if the second television TV2 is off.

In the abovementioned embodiment, the first and the second electronic products are each a television, but this is only an example for illustrating the present invention and is not limited only to this. For example, in another embodiment, the first and the second electronic products can each be an air conditioner.

Please refer toFIG. 5.FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating aflow80 of utilizing a remote controller to operate the air conditionerremote control system50 inFIG. 2. Theflow80 includes the following steps.

Step802: Users press a status button of a remote controller.

Step804: Determine whether a temperature setting status of a first air conditioner AC1 exists in a memory of the remote controller or not. If yes, go to step818; otherwise, go to step806.

Step806: The remote controller transmits a control signal to the first air conditioner AC1.

Step808: Determine whether the first air conditioner AC1 is on or not. If yes, go to step810; otherwise, go to step816.

Step810: The first air conditioner AC1 transmits the temperature setting status to the remote controller.

Step812: Store the temperature setting status in the memory of the remote controller.

Step814: Turn off the first air conditioner AC1.

Step816: Turn on the first air conditioner AC1.

Step818: The remote controller transmits the control signal to a second air conditioner AC2.

Step820: Determine whether the second air conditioner AC2 is on or not. If yes, go to step822; otherwise, go to step826.

Step822: The remote controller transmits the temperature setting status stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second air conditioner AC2.

Step824: Set a temperature setting status of the second air conditioner AC2 according to the temperature setting status stored in the memory of the remote controller.

Step826: The remote controller transmits the temperature setting status stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second air conditioner AC2.

Step828: Turn on the second air conditioner AC2.

Step830: Set the temperature setting status of the second air conditioner AC2 according to the temperature setting status stored in the memory of the remote controller.

The above-mentioned embodiments illustrate but do not limit the present invention. The mentioned first electronic product and the second electronic product controlled by the remote controller are used to illustrate but do not limit the present invention. The number of the electronic products is not limited to two but can be expanded to a plurality of electronic products. Furthermore, the present invention takes televisions and air conditioners as example but could be other electronic products. Thefirst transceiver device14A, thesecond transceiver device14B, and thethird transceiver device14C could each be an infrared ray (IR) transceiver device or other wireless transceiver device.

In conclusion, the present invention provides a method for utilizing a remote controller with memory capacity to operate a plurality of electronic products. As for the television remote control system, users can continue watching the same channel everywhere at home through theremote controller42 of the present invention, which reaches a so-called “AV follow me” to save time and increase convenience. Similarly, as for the air conditioner remote control system, users can enjoy the same comfort everywhere at home.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. A remote controller with memory capability for controlling electronic products, comprising:

a status button;

a memory for storing a status information of a first electronic product;

a processing unit for generating a control signal and determining whether the status information exists in the memory when the status button is pressed; and

a transceiver device for transmitting and receiving;

wherein when the status button is pressed and the processing unit determines that the status information does not exist in the memory, the transceiver device outputs the control signal to and receives the status information from the first electronic product, and the memory stores the status information;

wherein when the status button is pressed and the processing unit determines that the status information exists in the memory, the transceiver device outputs the control signal and the status information stored in the memory to a second electronic product.

2. The remote controller ofclaim 1, wherein the transceiver device is a wireless transceiver device.

3. The remote controller ofclaim 2, wherein the transceiver device is an infrared ray (IR) transceiver device.

4. The remote controller ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic products are televisions.

5. The remote controller ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic products are air conditioners.

6. An electronic product system capable of controlling memory capability with a remote controller comprising:

a first electronic product having a first transceiver device and status information;

a second electronic product having a second transceiver device; and

a remote controller, the remote controller comprising:

a status button;

a memory for storing the status information;

a processing unit for generating a control signal and determining whether the status information exists in the memory when the status button is pressed; and

a third transceiver device for transmitting the control signal and the status information, and exchanging data with the first transceiver device and the second transceiver device;

wherein when the status button is first pressed, the third transceiver device transmits the control signal to the first transceiver device, receives the status information as a response from the first electronic product, and stores the status information in the memory;

wherein when the status button is pressed again, the third transceiver device transmits the control signal and the status information to the second transceiver device for controlling the second electronic product.

7. The electronic product system ofclaim 6, wherein the first transceiver device, the second transceiver device, and the third transceiver device are each an infrared ray (IR) transceiver device.

8. The electronic product system ofclaim 6, wherein the first electronic product and the second electronic product are each a television.

9. The electronic product system ofclaim 6, wherein the first electronic product and the second electronic product are each an air conditioner.

10. A method for utilizing a remote controller to operate electronic products, comprising:

determining whether status information of a first electronic product exists in a memory of a remote controller when a status button of the remote controller is pressed;

the remote controller transmitting a control signal to the first electronic product if the status information does not exist in the memory of the remote controller;

determining whether the first electronic product is on;

the first electronic product transmitting the status information to the remote controller if the first electronic product is on and the status information does not exist in the memory of the remote controller;

storing the status information in the memory of the remote controller;

turning off the first electronic product;

the remote controller transmitting a control signal to a second electronic product if the status information exists in the memory of the remote controller;

determining whether the second electronic product is on;

and

setting a status of the second electronic product according to the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller if the second electronic product is on and the status information exists in the memory of the remote controller.

11. The method ofclaim 10 further comprising:

turning on the first electronic product if the first electronic product is off and the status information does not exist in the memory of the remote controller.

12. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the step of the first electronic product transmitting the status information to the remote controller comprises a first television transmitting a last played channel information to the remote controller.

13. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the step of the first electronic product transmitting the status information to the remote controller comprises a first air conditioner transmitting a temperature setting status to the remote controller.

14. The method ofclaim 10 further comprising:

turning on the second electronic product and setting the status of the second electronic product according to the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller if the second electronic product is off and the status information exists in the memory of the remote controller.

15. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the step of the remote controller transmitting the control signal and the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second electronic product comprises the remote controller transmitting the control signal and a channel stored in the memory of the remote controller to a second television.

16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the step of setting the status of the second electronic product according to the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller comprises the second television playing the channel.

17. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the step of the remote controller transmitting the control signal and the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller to the second electronic product comprises the remote controller transmitting the control signal and a temperature setting status stored in the memory of the remote controller to a second air conditioner.

18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the step of setting the status of the second electronic product according to the status information stored in the memory of the remote controller comprises setting the temperature setting status as the temperature setting status stored in the memory of the remote controller.

Images